Four in a row!

West Ham 3 Southampton 1

In Ken’s Café Nigel’s looking forward to seeing Eddie and the Hot Rods later, while Matt’s not slept all week because of roadworks outside his house but is promising to remain positive. Michael the Whovian remarks that it’s the third anniversary of the death of the Brigadier, aka Nicholas Courtney. Let’s hope the lads can do it for the Brig. While Michael’s mate Nick, who lives locally, but isn’t going to the game, has arrived simply to experience the ambience of the East End literary salon that is Ken’s.

In the stadium Southampton immediately impress with their passing game and only a good interception by Demel stops an early goal. Rodriguez looks impressive on the left and Lallana is busy. West Ham go behind on eight minutes after a fairly soft free kick is given. Yoshida outjumps McCartney to score an easy goal.

THE IRONS GO MARCHING IN

Matt tries to stay positive and, perhaps delirious after lack of sleep, encourages Matt Taylor when he gives the ball away. It pays off as a few seconds later Nolan chips the ball over the top, Shaw doesn’t follow his man and a possibly offside Matt Jarvis pokes the ball through Boruc’s legs. It gets better. Three minutes later Downing wins a corner. Carlton Cole hits the post with his header and then reacts quickest to swivel and half-volley home after Yoshida makes a mess of trying to clear. That’s six goals for CC since he returned. Before the break Lambert outjumps Collins to head against the post.

Southampton dominate the first 25 minutes of the second half. Ramirez skins Collins to shoot over the bar and then Lallana shoots hastily wide. West Ham’s only threat is when Taylor makes a great run down the left to get a dangerous cross in.

CLUCKING KEVIN NOLAN

The Irons are playing like the away side, but soon punish the Saints’ wastefulness. Noble makes a great interception to find Downing on the left. His inviting cross is touched back by Carlton Cole and Kevin Nolan scores with an acrobatic overhead kick. Another great finish from the clucking captain.

“The mugging rate in Newham must have just soared,” muses Michael. After his sinus operation Michael’s nose has just about stood up to the pressure.

We nearly get a fourth when sub Diame cuts inside to wallop the bar. Despite Southampton's possession, Noble has had another great game and Nigel's 'Nobes for England' theory is starting to sound possible. Three minutes of added time is seen out and incredibly it’s four wins out of four. On possession Southampton deserved at least a point, but Hammers are resilient these days and for once have been clinical up front.

The day is rounded off by a trip to the Central with Fraser and Michael, which is still stocking Old Speckled Hen (admittedly in the fridge) as that woman offering dvds does her rounds of the punters. Michael looks forward to an evening at the theatre watching Candide, insisting that all is for the best in the best of all possible worlds and that Kevin Nolan is the West Ham captain therefore he is the best West Ham captain. Thirty one points… Two more wins and a couple of draws should do it.

PLAYER RATINGS: Adrian 6, Demel 7, Tomkins 7, Collins 6, McCartney 6: Jarvis 7 (Diame 6), Taylor 6, Noble 8, Nolan 7 (Reid 5), Downing 7; Cole 7.